Share This Story!

Father charged with child abuse after crashing into patrol cars

Father Charged with Child Abuse after Crashing into Patrol CarsA suspected drunk driver, who had his 10-year-old son along for the ride, was charged with child abuse after leading police on a pursuit late Wednesday evening and crashing his pickup i

Father charged with child abuse after crashing into patrol cars

LAS CRUCES - Police report a suspected drunken driver, whose 10-year-old son was in the vehicle, has been charged with child abuse after leading police on a pursuit late Wednesday evening and crashing his pickup into two marked police units.

Cesar Juarez, 29, of the 1600 block of Mahaney Drive, is charged with one count of child abuse, two counts of aggravated battery against a peace officer and one count each of aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, aggravated driving while intoxicated, reckless driving and driving while license revoked.

According to a Las Cruces Police Department news release, an LCPD officer spotted a white Chevrolet S-10 pickup traveling north on Mesquite Street about 11 p.m. Wednesday. The pickup’s license plate lights were not working and the vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit, the release stated.

Police report the officer activated his unit’s emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop but the driver of the S-10 failed to pull over. The pursuit went through a residential neighborhood and onto Spruce Avenue where the driver, later identified as Juarez, crashed into the officer’s patrol vehicle, the release stated.

Police report the crash forced the S-10 to veer into the concrete center median on Picacho Avenue, and then into a 2007 Chevrolet pickup in the area.

Juarez’s Chevy S-10 continued westbound on Picacho, police report, but made a U-turn where another LCPD officer was able to briefly immobilize the pickup. As the officer attempted to exit his unit, Juarez’s revved his engine and crashed into that patrol vehicle, the release stated.

According to police, it was at that time that officers noticed a young boy, identified as Juarez’s 10-year-old son, in the pickup.

No injuries were reported and the young boy was turned over to the custody of a relative, the release stated.

Juarez was booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center where he is being held on a $10,000 bond.